New Delhi: The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Ministry of Culture, has inaugurated the sixth edition of Nadi Utsav 23rd September 2025, celebrating rivers as lifelines of ecology, culture, and imagination. The three-day festival, running from September 25 to 27, 2025, was opened at the Samvet Auditorium, IGNCA, by Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil. The inaugural session was chaired by Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, Padma Bhushan awardee and President of the IGNCA Trust, with the welcome address delivered by Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA.
At the press briefing held earlier this week, Prof. K. Anil Kumar, Head of the Janapada Sampada Division, and Shri Abhay Mishra, Convenor of Nadi Utsav, highlighted how the festival underscores the inseparable bond between rivers and human civilization.
Highlights of Nadi Utsav 2025
- National Seminar on Riverscape Dynamics: Featuring 45 selected research papers out of 300 submissions, with sessions on traditional riverine wisdom, folk narratives, art, craft, and science. The Department of English, University of Delhi, is collaborating on this segment.
- ‘My River Story’ Documentary Festival: Screenings include Gotakhors: Disappearing Diving Communities, River Man of India, Arth Ganga, Molai – Man Behind the Forest, Cauvery – River of Life, and Ladakh – Life along the Indus.
- Cultural Performances: Highlights include Classical Renditions on Rivers by Guru Smt. Sudha Raghuraman, Ganga Gaatha (Dastangoi) by Himanshu Bajpai and Pragya, and River Songs from Bengal by Saurav Moni and ensemble.
- Exhibition – Nadi Anubhav: Running from September 25–30 at Darshanam Gallery, curated by Anuj Agarwal, featuring Kalighat paintings, photographs, contemporary artworks, and poetic expressions dedicated to rivers.
- Panel Discussions & Valedictory Session: On September 27, the concluding discussions will focus on ‘Life along the Rivers: Tributaries and Livelihoods’, bringing together experts and practitioners to explore the link between rivers and community sustenance.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. K. Anil Kumar emphasized that Nadi Utsav is an ongoing effort to honour rivers as both ecological entities and cultural lifelines. Convenor Abhay Mishra added that the festival bridges tradition with contemporary practices, ensuring communities remain connected with their riverine roots.
Through its blend of seminars, films, performances, and exhibitions, the 6th Nadi Utsav reinforces the vital relationship between rivers, ecology, and culture while inspiring collective responsibility for their preservation.
Click here for complete program schedule Nadi Utsav 2025 Source: PIB
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